Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Spring Reading Thing 2012 ~ my book list

March 20 - June 20, 2012
Katrina @ Callapidder Days is hosting Spring Reading Thing 2012, which starts today, from the first day of spring through the last day of spring.  The calendar tells me it's thirteen weeks and a day until June 20th, so I've chosen thirteen books I hope to complete for this reading challenge.

The basics:
  • create a list of books you plan to read (can be changed)
  • set other goals, if you want to (optional)
  • write a blog post (this is mine) showing your list and goals
  • sign up by linking your post on Katrina's Mister Linky
  • let everyone know at the end how you did on your list
LIST OF BOOKS to read or finish reading ( when completed):
  1.  Lone Wolf ~ by Jodi Picoult, 2012, fiction, 10/10

  2.  Ashfall ~ by Mike Mullin, 2011, YA fiction (Iowa, Illinois), 9/10, (library book)

  3.  Patience, Princess Catherine ~ by Carolyn Meyer, 2004, YA fiction (England), 9/10

  4.  Mary, Bloody Mary ~ by Carolyn Meyer, 1999, YA fiction (England), 9/10

  5.  Between a Rock and a Hot Place: Why Fifty is the New Fifty ~ by Tracey Jackson, 2011, psychology/aging, 7/10

  6.  I Could Tell You Stories: Sojourns in the Land of Memory ~ by Patricia Hampl, 1999, memoir writing, 8/10, (library book)

7.  Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient: Reflections on Healing and Regeneration ~ by Norman Cousins, 1979, memoir

  8.  Girl Meets God ~ by Lauren F. Winner, 2002, memoir, 8/10, (library book)

  9.  Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis ~ by Lauren F. Winner, 2012, memoir, 8/10

10.  Love Wins: A Book about Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived ~ by Rob Bell, 2011, religion, 9/10, (library book)

11.  Saving Jesus from the Church: How to Stop Worshiping Christ and Start Following Jesus ~ by Robin R. Meyers, 2009, religion

12.  Eternal Life: A New Vision: Beyond Religion, Beyond Theism, Beyond Heaven and Hell ~ by John Shelby Spong, 2009, religion

13.  The Gifts of the Jews: How a Tribe of Desert Nomads Changed  the Way Everyone Thinks and Feels ~ by Thomas Cahill, 1998, history (Middle East), 9/10
ADDED SINCE MARCH 20:
14.  Before I Go to Sleep ~ by S. J. Watson, 2011, fiction, 9/10, (library book)

15.  God Is No Laughing Matter: An Artist's Observations and Objections on the Spiritual Path ~ by Julia Cameron, 2000, religion, 8/10

16.  The Age of Grief ~ by Jane Smiley, 1987, fiction, 7/10

17.  Catalyst ~ by Laurie Halse Anderson, 2002, YA fiction, 9/10

18.  Into the Tangle of Friendship: A Memoir of the Things That Matter ~ by Beth Kephart, 2000, memoir, 8/10, (library book)

19.  The Breath of God ~ by Jeffrey Small, 2011, fiction (Bhutan, India, USA), 9.5/10

20.  The Metaphor of God Incarnate: Christology in a Pluralistic Age ~ by John Hick, 2005, religion

21.  Living Buddha, Living Christ ~ by Thích Nhất Hạnh, introduction by Elaine Pagels, 1995, religion

22.  Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings ~ edited by Marcus Borg, 1997, religion, 7/10, (library book)

23.  Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant ~ by Anne Tyler, 1982, fiction (Maryland), 8/10

24.  The Beginner's Goodbye ~ by Anne Tyler, 2012, fiction (Maryland), 8/10, (library book)

25.  One Hand Clapping: Zen Stories for All Ages ~ by Rafe Martin, illustrated by Junko Morimoto, 1995, YA religion, 9/10, (library book)

26.  Close to Famous ~ by Joan Bauer, 2011, YA fiction (West Virginia), 8/10, (library book)

27. The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe v. Wade ~ by Ann Fessler, 2006, history. 9/10, (library book)

28.  Dead Asleep ~ by Jennifer B. White, 2011, fiction (Massachusetts), 9/10

29.  The Lady and the Unicorn ~ by Tracy Chevalier, 2004, fiction (France and Belgium), 9/10

30.   Traveling with Pomegranates: A Mother-Daughter Story ~ by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor, 2009, memoir (Greece, Turkey, South Carolina, France), 9/10

31.  The Happy Room ~ by Catherine Palmer, 2002, fiction (Missouri, Kenya), 8/10, (library book)

32.  Nop's Trials ~ by Donald McCaig, 1984, fiction (Virginia), 9/10

33.   Murder and the First Lady ~ by Elliott Roosevelt, 1984, mystery (District of Columbia), 8/10
OTHER BOOK-RELATED GOALS FOR SPRING:
1.  Read from books I already have.  Strategy?   Read at least two of my books for every library book.

2.  Get rid of a lot of my books so I have more room.   Strategy?  Give some to friends and family, take some to the store that sells used books (for trade credit), and donate others to the reading room at the senior center.
SUMMARY OF MY READING GOALS:
16 of 4 fiction
1 of 1 psychology
1 of 1 writing
4 of 3 memoir
4 of 3 religion
2 of 1 history
_____________
28 of 13 books, and still reading 
RATIO OF MY BOOKS READ TO LIBRARY BOOKS READ:
16 my books
12 library books
_____________
16/12 ratio, which is not good enough 
SUMMARY OF BOOKS REMOVED:
4 to friends
30 to used book store
3 to senior center
_______
37 books total 

10 comments:

Trish said...

Love your summary at the bottom! I am on a long hold list for Lone Wolf but looking forward to reading it.

Happy Reading. :)

Beth said...

An interesting list of books, Bonnie. I'm always amazed at how many books you manage to finish.

I wish I lived near you---I'd take some of your books off your hands! Or maybe we could trade books...
:-)

Bonnie Jacobs said...

Beth, which of the books I read most interest you?

Helen's Book Blog said...

I look forward to seeing what you think of Between a Rock and a Hot Place! That looks like a great list of books

Bonnie Jacobs said...

Helen, I just finished the book this afternoon and will say something about it in the next day or two.

Susanne said...

Lots of interesting titles on your list. I haven't read a one of them. Enjoy your reads!

Nise' said...

Lone Wolf is a popular one. I have not read any of her books yet.

Beth said...

Hi, Bonnie. I came back to look at one of the titles on your list that had piqued my interest and saw your question. Are you asking which ones on you list of 13 do I find most intriguing?

(By the way, seeing the Norman Cousins book listed evoked an unexpected feeling of sadness in me. After my mama was diagnosed with ALS, we both read this book so hopefully, thinking we, too, could perhaps bring about her healing in the same way. Of course, she wasn't healed but she did live longer than most folks with ALS. And it's a very good book.)

Bonnie Jacobs said...

Beth, the question of "which of the books I read most interest you?" can be ones from this list or any you have ever noticed on my blog. In other words, do I have any specific books you would like to read?

Tiffers said...

Happy Reading! :)